Talk me into, or out of, it

[Slugger55]

I bought my 195 IHO back in July 2014. My wife and I have been on the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, Patuxent River and now the Gulf of Mexico. The boat handles the chop very well and the hull does a great job keeping the spray to a minimum. I used to be a I/O boat handler and handling a jet boat is a little different. Highly recommend that you watch the videos like everyone is telling you and when you get your boat take time to drive it around the parking lot (so to speak). Your first 10 hours will be at 60% power, this is for the break-in period. You will notice when you get to 6 hours the boat will gradually give you more power as you reach 10 hours. Believe me when I say that this boat will not have any issues getting anyone skiing or boarding out of the water. Ours is vivid green, we absolutely love the boat...

 

[Greg L]

Thank you for sharing your experience---very helpful. And, great looking boat!

 

[MikeyL]

@Slugger55 ................ NICE boat ~!
Congrats and wishing you a superb 2015 Boating Season !
Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA

 

[Scarabgreg]

I just purchased a Scarab 195 and docked it in a slip on Lake Michigan. It is my first jet boat and it is more difficult docking than with a stern drive. The boat immediately begins to move when started, and, is tricky going maneuvering in currents. I love everything about it except docking. I see Yamaha's can add fins. Is this an option for Scarabs too?

 

[itsdgm]

I just purchased a Scarab 195 and docked it in a slip on Lake Michigan. It is my first jet boat and it is more difficult docking than with a stern drive. The boat immediately begins to move when started, and, is tricky going maneuvering in currents. I love everything about it except docking. I see Yamaha's can add fins. Is this an option for Scarabs too?

Welcome aboard @Greg L and @Scarabgreg congrats on your new boats. Not sure about adding fins to the scarab, but I'm sure somebody who knows will chime in shortly. Again, welcome

 

[ScarabMike]

Welcome @Scarabgreg

All Jetboats push water through the jets when you first start them up. This is because our boats are direct drive, and do not have transmissions like Stern/outboard engines. Your Scarab is equipped with a reverse and directional bucket that enhances the water coming out of the venturi. Once you get used to its abilities, you will see that these boats will maneuver better than stern drives. Please take a look at the SeaDoo Clinx. Watch all of the videos, and acclimate yourself with your new boat.
https://jetboaters.net/threads/sea-doo-scarab-glastron-chaparral-how-to-clinx-series.5116/

 

[Greg L]

Thanks folks,for the info and insights. We have a pair of SeaDoos that function the same way...and they don't even have neutral or reverse. I'm sure it's not insurmountable, I'll just need good teachers and tutorials...and practice, practice, practice!

 

[Volffas]

@Greg L, if you would like to take a ride on a jetboat before purchasing, we are in the Cincinnati area and would love to take you for a ride and let you drive our boat (2007 Yamaha AR230) and see what you think. We will be out Memorial day weekend.

 

[Slugger55]

I just purchased a Scarab 195 and docked it in a slip on Lake Michigan. It is my first jet boat and it is more difficult docking than with a stern drive. The boat immediately begins to move when started, and, is tricky going maneuvering in currents. I love everything about it except docking. I see Yamaha's can add fins. Is this an option for Scarabs too?

@Scarabgreg I have found it very useful to center the steering before starting the boat. The boat will literately spin in a circle if it is not centered. It shouldn't be moving forward or backwards while in the neutral position. You will also find it useful when at the dock, it will keep you pushed up against it. As @Greg L said "Practice, Practice, Practice." I run our 195 IHO out on the Gulf of Mexico to do some Dolphin watching, this neutral steering helps with spectating.

 

[Greg L]

@Greg L, if you would like to take a ride on a jetboat before purchasing, we are in the Cincinnati area and would love to take you for a ride and let you drive our boat (2007 Yamaha AR230) and see what you think. We will be out Memorial day weekend.

What a gracious offer "to ride before buy"!
We will be in Indianapolis for the 500 over Memorial Day weekend, but spend a lot of weekends on the Ohio River at Rising Sun, IN.
Don't know how close you may be, but maybe we can connect. Thanks again!

 

[Greg L]

@Scarabgreg I have found it very useful to center the steering before starting the boat. The boat will literately spin in a circle if it is not centered. It shouldn't be moving forward or backwards while in the neutral position. You will also find it useful when at the dock, it will keep you pushed up against it. As @Greg L said "Practice, Practice, Practice." I run our 195 IHO out on the Gulf of Mexico to do some Dolphin watching, this neutral steering helps with spectating.

Thanks, Slugger55, for the tips. Much appreciated. Every bit of info helps!

 

[DJMattyT]

I love it!

 

[ScarabMike]

@DJMattyT SICK!

 

[Scarab255]

All this stuff I see about maneuverability while docking... I think it's more of an issue for people coming from stern drives. The second time we took our boat out, I had my wife put it on the trailer. She has literally zero experience with boats (she had never been on one until the day before) and was able to get it in after only a single faulty attempt. I had driven stern drives a lot when I was a kid, but haven't touched one for 10 years, I also didn't have any trouble maneuvering the boat into a slip or onto the trailer in a currant. Our sales person, however, who spends a significant amount of time on stern drive boats and not much on jet, had some issues.

 

[DJMattyT]

Once you get used to the jet drive, this boat maneuvers better than a regular boat. Its like controlling the boat with a joystick, also being able to reposition in neutral is awesome too. My slip is in a tight spot between boats, after 2 days of practice I've mastered it

 

[Greg L]

I love it!View attachment 23044

Great looking rig! Tinted windshield is HOT! Still have visibility through it?
(Nice dock mates too)

 

[Greg L]

All this stuff I see about maneuverability while docking... I think it's more of an issue for people coming from stern drives. The second time we took our boat out, I had my wife put it on the trailer. She has literally zero experience with boats (she had never been on one until the day before) and was able to get it in after only a single faulty attempt. I had driven stern drives a lot when I was a kid, but haven't touched one for 10 years, I also didn't have any trouble maneuvering the boat into a slip or onto the trailer in a currant. Our sales person, however, who spends a significant amount of time on stern drive boats and not much on jet, had some issues.

Thanks, Scarab255, for your insights. I, too, come from a long stern drive history. Hopefully not so long that the old dog can't learn new tricks.

 

[DJMattyT]

@Greg L not the best visibility through the tint lol but I did go the darkest you can go

 

[Greg L]

@Greg L not the best visibility through the tint lol but I did go the darkest you can go

Ok...still a great look.